Scrap cutter



, May-3b, 1944.

F. M. LlTTELL SGHAP CUTTER Filed Feb. 13, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet l .d a v g May 30, 1944. BM. LITTELL 2,349,874

SCRAP GUTTER Filed Feb. 13, 1943 3 Sheets-Shed'. 2

May 30, 1944.

F. M. LrrTl-:LL y 2,349,874

Patented May 30, 1944 SCRAP CUTTER y Frederick M. Litieltnetreit, Mieh.,fessign0r to( lVF. J. Littell Machine Company, Chicago, Ill., a e corporation of Illinois i f 'Y j Application-February 13, 1943, Serial No. A$115,747

s claims; (ci. ici-10.6)

:The invention relates to scrap cutters and has reference more particularly to apparatus for attachment to a punch press and which may be actuated continuously, that is,` cn each operation of the press, or intermittently,v in which case a variable number of press operations intervene, 'for cutting the material into any length desired. "In" lstamping operations and in many other operations, such asare performed on a` punch press,fthe"material is taken from Ya`coil and presented tc straightening' rolls where the vsaine is straightened andthen fed under the die or punch'of the press. The 4perforated material resulting from' said operation is generally'fed to a scrap-'cutter for cutting the material into suit'- able lengths. 'The present invention has for a primary ebjectthe provision of a scrap cutter' of relatively simple construction' and which may be rendered operative by merely rotating aniec'centric to locate the same in its lowerm'ost position.

A furtherobject is toprovide a reciprocating typfeof. scrap cutter v4having an oscillatingv fulcrum member and wherein a cutting operation is elected by rotating an eccentric 'to thereby lower the fulcrum point of Asaid' member to render the cutting knives operative. l

1 A niriner object is te' provide' aniniermittein scrap A'cutter having a rotatableeccentric for controlling actuations of the scrap 'cutter land `which eccentric'may be rotated from one positionv tc the other by" manual actuation 'or by power means electrically controlledf` j Afiiirther object is to provide an intermittent scrap cutter including an oscillatable member 1and rotatableeccent'ric 'means for effecting a cutting `operation and wherein said eccentric means 'mu'st be positioned `onz lower dead center or beyond to provide thev necessaryllock for'holding the `pivot endof the fulcrum memberfagainst 'the tension'4 of the cutting fknives.

, With these a-"d varius'ot'her objects in' view. the invention may vconsist of certain'vn'ovel fea- -tures "of construction and voperation as will be more fully described andparticularlyj pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto. f

In the drawings, which illustratean embodiment of the invention, and wherein like reference 4cliaraci'sers 'are used to designate like parts- Figure lis a side velevational view showing the scrap cutterof the invention equipped with pres- S'ure'means for 'rendering the 'same operative in tirnedrelation with the press;

"Figure Z'is a front elevationalview of the scrap electrical means for controlling 'the pressure cylinderv whereby the .scrap cutter Ais rendered operativer fr ,p Figure Bis a part'elevational and part sectional'view` illustrating the position of the eccentric when th'e cutting knives are operative;

Figure tis a side elevational view showing a modification 'of the invention wherein aV handle is substituted for the pressure-means; and" Figure '5 is a frontelevational view of the modied form of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings,V particularly Figure 1, the scrap cutter of the' invention is shown in connection with' the operating instrumentalities of a punch press or the like with which the'scrap cutter may be associated. l'The press has a main operating shaftv indicated by numeral I Il whichV drives lthe scrap cutter andalso the timing mechanismV fori controlling actuation ofv said cutter.

`The cam` I I on the mainopera'ting shaft has connection at I2 Vwith a connecting link I4 joined example', mayalso be utilized'ior this purpose.

The oscillating member, I8Y has pivotall movement about a fulcrum pontZIl,` located at the end of the member opposite pin`20. Therefore this bifurcated end vof member I8V isfulcrummed by pin 24 and oscillating movement is imparted to the oppositeend through clevis I6, connecting link I4 .andcam II. The pivot'pin 25 is located intermediate the ends ofthe member and this pin pivotally connects to said oscillating member ,the depending arms 26 whichinturn carry at `their lower end the movable cutting knife 21.

The...scrap,material to be cut by `apparatus of the invention is suitably fred between themovable cuttingknife 21 yandthe stationary knife 28, the

,same being `iixedlto thebase structure indicated inits entirety by.A numeral` 3I1. Said .base .structureprovides a support 3I which primarily func- .tions to support the scrap material and direct the `same-toward the cutting .knives Z'Iv and 28. The

base. structure also provides upwardly directed bosses 32 to which'are ixedv the upright posts 33.

Each depending arm 26 has formed integral cutter-of lFigure 1 more clearlyillustrating the 55 @ting knife 21, which extends transversely between the arms' 26, being fixed thereto, is caused to move in a vertical plane properly aligned with respect to the stationary knife, which likewise extends transversely, being located to the rear of the support 3|. The movement imparted to said knife 21 is due to the oscillating movement of member IB. pivotally fulcrummed at its bifurcated forward end by means of pin 24.

The pin 24 in addition to fulcrumming the oscillating member I8 is adapted to have bodily movement in a substantially vertical plane, which movement serves to control the cutting operations. The position of the fulcrum pin 24 determines the position of cutting knife 21 with re,- spect to the stationary knife 28. With pin 241 in its uppermost position the knife 21 does not contact the stationary knife 28 even during the 10W- ermost point of oscillating movement of member lower dead center or slightly beyond a secure lock is provided which eiectively prevents upward movement of pin 24 until the eccentric 'is purposely rotated to accomplish this result.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a preferred form of power means for rotating the eccentric. Said power means consists of a pressure cylinder 44 having a piston 45. The piston carries a rack 46 which hasvertical reciprocating movement in suitable guiding means 41. The rack has mesh- Y ing relation with a pinion 48 on the left pivot portion 31 of the eccentric 38, as clearly evident I8. Therefore with pin 24 located asshown in Figure l cutting operations do not take place even though the knife 21 reciprocates in a 'vertical plane to and from the stationary knife 28. It will be clearly understood that when the pivot lpin 24 is lowered to an extent where the cutting knives will contact that the desired 'cutting `operation will be caused to take place," since if scrap material is between the' knives at thisimomjent the same will be severed. l The inventionprovides eccentric means for adjusting the position'. of the pivot pin 24, which structure will now'be described.

The base structure 30 provides spaced uprights 35,.' as clearly shownin Figure 2. Aboss 35 is formed on each 'of the spaced uprights and it will be understood that said bosses are in horizontal alignment 'for journalling the pivot port-ions 311 .of the eccentric 38. The eccentric isconnected by a link with the pivot pin 24'. Said link includes a bearing portion140 pivotally mounted'on pin 2 4 and. a somewhat similar bearing portion 4| having pivotalmounting on the eccentric-; The threaded stud42v vjoinsthe bearing portions 4.0 and 4| to complete the link and said stud is ad- `instable so that thedesired spacing between pivot pin 24 and the eccentric 38 can be secured.

The eccentric'y is shown in Figures I and 2 in its elevated position. In this position, it will be clearly seen that the pivot pin 24 hasbeen elevated sucientlyso that the `movable cutting knife 21 does not coactwith knife 28. -In this .elevated position of the eccentric .the cutting knives do not perform. a cuttingV operation, notwithstanding that -knife-.21 has vertical reciprocating movement as a result `of the .oscillating movement of member IB. To eifect a cutting operationthe eccentric must be rotated ,substantially 180 degrees from its position as shown in Figures I1 and 2. In other words, the eccentric must be moved from an elevated position where the cutting knives are.

to the pivot pin 24 which is equal and opposite to that ofthe movable knife 21'.Y The tendency of the pin therefore is to move upwardly and it `must be securely locked'in its lower' operative position. By rotating the eccentric: so Vthat the same isfo'n `1 and l2.

Yc lucting a pressure fluid to the cylinder and for carrying said fluid away from the cylinder.

The reference numeral 52 indicates a solenoid operated valve control, the same including a solenoid 53, armature 54 and valve control chamber 55'. The pipes or conduits 5D and 5| connect with the cont-rol vchamber 5.5. Said chamber '.-isvv also provldedwithfan' inlet56 andwith an'exhaust 51. The 'structure operates ftofcontrol the admission 'of vpressure fluid to the cylinder 4 4 and the .exhaust of the'uid' therefrom.

"When it' is desired toV move the rack 46:in a downward `direction to rotate the eccentric 38 pressure fluid -is admittecliby control v52 torconduit `tlto cause downward movement lof 4the piston within cylinder 44;V Simultaneously with the admission .of fluid to conduit 5| the fluid within the cyii-nderis permitted to exhaust through conduit 50# 'This action of theucontrol valve will rotate the .eccentric to render the scrap cutter opera.- ti-ve. r`When-it E isdesiredV to 'elevate the eccentric viso-render thecutting instrumentalities thereof inoperative the 'action of the valve-control mea-.ns 4is lof theV microswitch therefore controls the enerrguet-ion of 4Said solenoid andvcorrespondingaotuation of the valve control` means..V The micro- `switch 58 is suitably located Withinhousing 59 which is adjustably Supported on the side of the press bythe bracket 50.- Thehousingil provides mecheinem.A for actuating the micro-switch which includes :the ratchetl 6| and pawl 62, the latter having the cam roller -63 at the .outer end thereof. The cam-roller is suitably maintained incontact with cam '64 on shaft I0 of thepress and periodically theY cam roller is-causedv .toengage cam portion 65 of said cam to 4produce* actuation of pawl 6,2. The ratchet 6| is therefore indexed `one notoh for each complete -rotationof the main operating shaft' |-0 of the press. In the form as shown in Figure 2 the microswitch is actuated at intervals, Adepending on 'the number ofpins 65 carried'by the ratchet Vwheel (il.A vTlrrese'vpins contact an arm 61 downward lmovement -of said Aarm the microswitch 58 is actuated.

Figures 4 and 5 show a modicationlof the invention wherein a handle is substituted for the pressure means. It will-be-understood that the oscillatingfmember H8 has connection With the mainoperatingshaft of the -press vthrough the same-linkage as disclosed `with respect toLFigures Said memberv has pivotal movement about the fulcruml point |24 and by means of pin |25 the depending arms |26 are-reciprocated 'to cause' vertical movement of' knife "|'21-w ith re spet to knife'lZB: Spaced `uprights '|35 are provided byfthe base structureand' the journalling bossesv I 36? formedtliei-'eon4 arev in horizontal alignmentfojoiirnalling the eccentric |38. `The pin |24 andec'c'entric' l|3V|`l"are suitably''connected by the linkage including the bearing" portions |40 and`|4| and the threaded stud |42. In Figures 4 Aand 5 the eccentric is shown in an operative lower positin'scf the handle fare indicated.' Although not absolutelylnecessary the bearing portion |4| may providethe spring` pressed detent |14 by means ofiwhichtheeccentric is held in an operative position.

The scrap cutter of the invention is relatively simple in construction and can be easily rendered operative or inoperative. At all times the oscillating member I8 fulcrums on pin 24 and the knife 21 has movement in a vertical plane for each oscillation of said member. The cutting knives are rendered operative merely by lowering the fulcrum point 24 or |24 in the modification of Figures 4 and 5. The eccentric 38 provides the means whereby the position of the fulcrum point may be controlled. This structure has the advantage that when located in lower dead center position or beyond the same provides a lock effectively preventing inadvertent upward movement of the linkage including the threaded stud 42 and of course the pivot pin 24. Whereas, the eccentric must be positioned in lower dead center position or beyond to render the cutting knives operative, it is not necessary that the eccentric be moved a complete 180 degrees for an inoperative position. A 90 degree rotation of the eccentric from its lower dead center position would in many cases be suflicient to prevent the cutting knives from coacting. However, for safety purposes and in order that fairly thick scrap material may be cut the invention discloses the eccentric as in upper dead center position when inoperative.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as various other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a reciprocable cutting slide, an oscillating member pivotally connected to the cutting slide for reciprocating the same, means providing a fulcrum for the oscillating member, and an eccentrically jour-- nalled shaft operatively associated with said fulcrum means for adjusting the position of said means, whereby to render the cutting slide operative or inoperative.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a base providing a stationary blade, a outing slide mounted for movement to and from said stationary blade for coaction therewith, an oscillating member pivotally connected to the cutting slide for reciprocating the same, means providing a fulcrum for the oscillating member, and an eccentrically journalled shaft operatively associated 4thep'ivot pin bodily with respect Ato the base to .with lsaidfulcrfum-lmeans for adjusting i the position 'of 'said meansffwhereby' tov render the cutting dslide operative for-'inoperative with respect to the 'Stttt'oriaiyrll'la'de.` YV

f f 3;In apparatus of the characterI described, `a base providing'a stationary blade,` alcutting slide mounted by said'base' so as to jhave reciprocating 'movement toward fand ffrom rthe stationary blade, `arroscillating member pivotally connected tothe cuttingslide` for reciprocating"thev same; means -providiiigfaffulcrum for'the oscillating member including l -a "pivo'tf pin, a shaftA eccentrically journalled "by said base,-and meansv operatively connecting said eccentric shaft and said pivot pin, wherebyrotation of the eccentric shaft will move renderthe cutting slide operative or inoperative.

4. In cutting apparatus Aof thenon-flying type, "af base providing immovable, spaced upst'anding posts and saidfb'ase supporting a stationary blade between said posts, a slide supported by ysaid posts for reciprocation, said slide carrying a cutting blade for coaction with the stationaryy blade, an oscillating member pivotally connected to said slide and operating to reciprocate the slide upon oscillating movement of the member, means providing a fulcrum for one end of said oscillating member including a pivot pin, an eccentric journalled by said base for rotation and operatively connected to said pivot pin, whereby rotation of the eccentric will change the position of the pivot pin bodily with respect to the base to render the cutting blade operative or inoperative with respect to the stationary blade.

5. In cutting apparatus of the non-flying type, a base having immovable, spaced uprights providing journalling means, an eccentric rotatably mounted by said journalling means and extending between the same, a link member having one end thereof mounted on the eccentric and journalling a pivot pin at its opposite end, an oscillating member pivotally connected to said link member by means of said pivot pin which thereby provides a fulcrum for the oscillating member, a. reciprocable cutting slide supported by the base for coaction with respect to a stationary blade xed to the base to perform a cutting operation, said slide having pivotal connection with the oscillating member whereby oscillation of the same reciprocates said slide, and means for rotating the eccentric to cause bodily movement of the pivot pin with respect to the stationary blade to render said cutting slide operative or inoperative.

6. In cutting apparatus of the non-flying type, a base having immovable, spaced uprights providing journalling means, an eccentric rotatably mounted by said journalling means and extending between the same, a link member having one end thereof mounted on the eccentric and journalling a pivot pin at its opposite end, an oscillating member pivotally connected to said link member by means of said pivot pin which thereby provides a fulcrum for the oscillating member, spaced upstanding posts fixed to the base, a stationary blade located between the posts, a reciprocable cutting slide mounted by said posts and having movement toward and from the stationary blade to coact therewith, means pivotally connecting the cutting slide with the oscillating member whereby movement of the member reciprocates the slide, and means for rotating the eccentric to cause bodily movement of the pivot pin with respect to the stationary blade to render the cutting slide operative or inoperative.

1 -f'L In .cuttingapparatusof the non-iying type,

Vbase struct-ure providing affixed. stationary cuttingblade, la cuttinggslide lmounted for movementon said base structure in afdirection towardland from the stationary'blade to coact therewith in performing aV cutting operation, a member fulcrumed at one end and pivotally connected to the cutting slide intermediate its ends -fo-rlreciprocating lthe slide uponoscillating movepend opposite the fulcrum for oscillating the same.

8. In cutting apparatus of the non-flying type,

base structure providing a fixed, stationary cutting blade, a vertically movable cutting slide adapted to coact with the blade in performing a cutting operation, an oscillating member pivotally connected to 'the slide for reciprocating the same, an eccentric journalled for rotation on a horizontal axis by the base structure, a substantially vertically disposed link having one end operatively mounted on the eccentric and having its other end pivotally connected to the oscillating member to provide a fulcrum for the same, whereby the cutting slide is operative to perform a cutting operation vwhen the eccentric is located in its lower `dead center position and whereby the cutting slide isrendered inoperative by rotation of the eccentric `to locate the same substantially in its upper .dead center position.

FREDERICK M. LITTELL. 

